Refrigerating apparatus



y 1942. P. H. PREBLE 2,282,342

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l IMI WL K QL L/ m I l i 22 May 12, 1942. P. H. PREBLE REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 26, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 d g INVENTO ATTORNEYS I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I y 1942- P. H. PREBLE 2,282,342

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 26, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet :5

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ATTORNEYS May 12, 1942. P. H. PREBLE REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 26, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 MZZYCNV TOR.

TTORNEYS Patented May 12, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Paul H. Preble, Concordia, Kans., assignor to General Motors Corporation, Dayton, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Application January 26, 1940, Serial No. 315,827

15 Claims.

Fixed supports have been provided, and some shelves have been provided with several fixed supports for different shelf positions, but such means only provide several definite compartment sizes. Often, the jars and receptacles desired to be placed within the cabinet do not properly fit such compartment sizes, and in this way, space is lost and considerable inconvenience and dissatisfaction results therefrom.

It is an object of my invention to provide a movable shelf or partition member with a means for holding it in any position desired without being limited to several fixed positions.

It is another obiect of my invention to provide means for holding shelves or partition walls at any point desired upon the smooth vertical walls of a storage compartment.

It is another object of my invention to provide an improved means for cooling a plurality of compartments in a refrigerator cabinet.

It is another object of my invention to provide improved means for controlling the cooling of separate compartments of a refrigerator.

It is another object of my invention to provide improved means for providing circulation in a secondary circuit.

It is another object of my invention to provide improved means for controlling circulation in a secondary circuit It is another object of my invention to provide improved means for closing a compartment of variable size.

It is still another object of my invention to provide an improved evaporating means, simple in form and having relatively great ice freezing capacity.

.Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accom-' panying drawings, wherein a preferred form of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a refrigerator tor with the secondary condenser attached thereto;

Fig. 4 is a front view of the primary evaporator and secondary condenser;

Fig. 5 is a top view of the movable combined insulating partition and shelf shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 6 is a view in elevation of the combined insulating partition and shelf;

Fig. '7 is an isometric view of an improved form of refrigerating system to be used in the cabinet shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the cabinet showing the extensible inner door for the freezing compartment;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view showing an end view of the extensible inner door;

Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken along the line Ill-l0 of Fig. 9; and

Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken along the line ||--ll of Fig. 10.

Briefly, I have shown a refrigerator having the compressor and condenser unit in the bottom of the refrigerator cabinet and the primary evaporator located in the top of the storage compartment. A secondary circuit is provided having a condensing or heat exchange portion clamped to the bottom of the primary evaporator, with an evaporating or air cooling portion in the form of a plurality of hollow shelves beneath the primary evaporator. The section of the storage compartment containing the primary evaporator is separated into a freezing compartment by a movable combined insulating shelf and partition which is held in place by a novel type of wedge means. so that it can be fastened in place at any place within the cabinet.

The secondary circuit may either contain a volatile refrigerant, in which case the circulation'is controlled by a solenoid valve and thermostat switch in the lower sub-compartment, or a secondary brine circuit may be used, in which a pump provides the circulation and is controlled by a thermostat switch in response to the temperature of the primary evaporator. However, the features of the two suggested secondary systems may be used interchangeably. A telescoping variable size inner door is provided for closing the freezing compartment on account'of the movable partition.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, there is shown a refrigerator cabinet 20 provided with a sealed motorcompressor unit 22 and a condenser 24 within a machinery compartment 26 in the bottom of the cabinet. Above the machinerycompartment 26 there is provided a storage chamber or compartment 28 bounded by a. box-shaped inner liner member 36 which is housed within the outer metal walls 32 of the cabinet, but separated therefrom by the insulating means 34. Secured in place in the top of the compartment 28 is a primary evaporating. means 36 which is connected by a liquid line 38 and a suction line 46 with the condenser and motor-compressor unit.

The operation of the motor-compressor unit 22 is controlled by a thermostatic switch means 48 provided with a thermostatic control bulb 56 mounted upon the upper'section of the primary evaporating means 36. This switch 48 is provided with a temperature regulating knob 52 so that it may be regulated to maintain different desired freezing temperatures in the primary evaporator 36 by properly controlling the operation of the motor-compressor unit 22. These different freezing temperatures are required in freezing varieties of frozen edibles within the ice trays 54 which are provided upon the lower section of the primary evaporator 36.

The chamber or compartment 28 is divided into an upper freezing sub-compartment 42 and a lower food storage sub-compartment 44 by a movable insulating partition and shelf 46. A certain amount of heat from the sub-compartment 44 will leak through the insulating partition 46. However, the main portion of the refrigerating load is carried by a secondary circuit, which includes a condensing or heat transfer portion 56 which is clamped to the bottom of the primary evaporating means 36, as isbest shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The volatile liquid in this secondary circuit which is condensed or cooled in heat transfer relationshipwith the primary evaporator 36 is drained therefrom by pipe 58 which extends down along the front edge of the inner liner member adjacent the door, and feeds a hollow shelf or plate 66 from the bottom. However, if desired, this pipe maypass outside the inner liner member 36. This-hollow shelf or plate 60, as is better shown in Fig. 2, is formed of two sheets of metal fused together at their edge portions and fastened at other portions as needed. The opposite corner of this hollow shelf 66 is connected by an upwardly extending pipe 62 which connects to the bottom of an upper hollow shelf or plate 64, otherwise similar to the lower hollow shelf or plate 66. Upon another corner of the hollow shelf or plate 64 is an upwardly extending pipe 66 which connects to a solenoid valve 68 which, in turn, connects to a pipe 16 which extends into a goose-neck portion 12 and then extends on and forms the condenser or heat transfer portion 56, previously mentioned. The hollow plates 66 and 64 serve as cooling plates or shelves and are vertically spaced apart to divide the compartment or sub-compartment 44 into further sub-compartments on either side of the plates.

The solenoid valve 68 is controlled by an adjustable thermostatic switch means 14 provided within the compartment 44. The switch 14 is adjusted by an adjustable contact 16. Preferably,-the switch 14 closes to energize the solenoid valve when refrigeration is required and. the solenoid valve is arranged to open upon energization. However, this system may be reversed so that when no refrigeration is required, the switch will close and the valve will close. By either of these arrangements, a definite temperature will bemaintained within the sub-compartment 44,

regardless of the temperature setting of the switch 48 or the temperature of ithe primary evaporator 36, since the closing of the valve 68 will stop refrigeration within the hollow plates 66 and 64 and the opening of the valve 68 will provide ample refrigeration for the compartment 44 under-all conditions.

The switch 14 and the solenoid valve 68 may be connected in parallel electric circuit relation with the motor-compressor unit 22 and the switch 48. However, if desired, the solenoid valve 68 and the switch 14 may be placed in series with the switch 48. Also, a shut-down switch common to both circuits may be provided.

Between the hollow shelves 66 and 64, there is provided a half shelf 16 of wire construction so that tall articles may be placed upon one-half of the space between the two hollow shelves. Beneath the lower hollow shelf 66' is another shelf 18 of wire construction, beneath which there is provided two vegetable pans 86 and 82 which slide outwardly in the form of drawers and are provided with stationary covers which permit a limited amount of air circulation into these pans.

The insulating partition wall is readily removable and may be moved upwardly or downwardly within the cabinet to almost any position desired. No hooks orflxed supports of any kind are provided for this combined insulating partition and shelf 46. Instead of this, I have pro vided a wedge means for firmly holding this partition wall 46 in place. For this purpose, at one edge of the partition wall, I have provided a groove which supports a round member 84 of a rubber-like material which is tightly pressed against the side wall of the inner liner member 36 when the shelf is in place. At the opposite edge of the partition wall 46, I.provide a wedge roller 86 which is preferably rotatably mounted 1 upon a wire mounting member 88 which is bent into the form of a bail and has its end portions 96 fitted into the partition wall 46 so as to form pivot sections. A spiral spring 92 is'provided at one end of the wire member 88 so as to urge the roller 86 in a clockwise direction about the pivot sections 96 so that the roller 86 is urged into contact with the tapered wedging edge 94 which is provided upon the adjacent edge of the partition wall 46. I

In moving this partition wall into] place, the rubber portion 84 is placed at the level desired and the remaining portion of the partition wall is inclined upwardly, after which the rubber 88 are released so that the roller 86 becomes tightly wedged between the adjacent wall of the inner liner 36 and the wedging edge 94 of the partition wall 46 by a slight additional downward movement 46. It should be noted that when the roller 86 comes into contact with the wedging edge 94, rotation will be stopped. If desired, the roller 86 may be molded onto the wire member 88 so that it cannot rotate.

Normally, this insulating partition 46 is located between the hollow shelf 64 and the bottom of the primary evaporator 36. Thus, the space immediately beneath the primary evaporator may be used as an additional freezing compartment and articles to be placed in frozen storage may be placed on the combined insulating partition wall and shelf 46.

The freezing compartment is closed by an inner door III piv' :ally connected by the pin II: to the upper front edge of the inner liner member 36. This inner door II I contains a hollow telescoping extension I I which is provided with a handle III (see Fig. 9). This telescoping extension II5 has its upper portion received within the main portion III and is held in place frictionally by a leaf spring H9, as shown in Figs. 10 and 11. When the partition wall 46 is lowered, to increase the space in the frozen storage compartment, the extension II5 can be pulled outwardly of door I I I, and lowered correspondingly, so that the door will cooperate with and engage the edge of the lowered partition wall to ciose the front of the frozen storage compartment. The element III serves as a handle for manually pivoting the door III into open and/or closed position about the pivot pin H3 and for manually sliding the extension II5 into or out of the door III.

The primary evaporator, as best shown in Fig. 3, is formed of a relatively straight, long section of welded sheets which is curled 180 at one end so as to form an upper deck covering about onehalf of the lower portion of the primary evaporator. The ice trays located beneath this upper deck are, therefore, more rapidly frozen than the trolled by a food storage sub-compartment switch tion as herein disclosed constitutes apreferred others, since they are subject to direct conduction with the evaporator upon the bottom and to radiation and convection cooling by the upper section. The refrigerant is fed in at the left edge upon the lower section where a transverse header is provided. and is removed at the left edge upon the upper section, where a second transverse header is provided. This provides a simple form of primary evaporator which extends substantially entirely across the compartment 28. It thus provides in a simple manner, several freezing speeds.

In Fig. 7 is shown a modified refrigerating system including a motor-compressor unit I22, a condenser I24 and liquid and return conduits I38 and I40 which connect to the primary evaporating means I36 to complete the primary ref rigerating system. Thus far, the system identical to that shown in Figs. 1 and 2. A secondary refrigerant circuit is provided, including a heat transfer section I56 formed of coiled tubing clamped to the bottom of the primary evaporator I36. Beneath are the hollow shelves I64 and I60. The cooling medium, cooled by the heat transfer portion I56, is conducted through a pipe I58 to a pump I59 which provides a forced circulation and pumps the cooling medium through the hollow shelf I60. The cooling medium i then forced upwardly through a pipe I62, after which it flows through the hollow shelf I64 and thence is forced upwardly through the pipe I66 to return it to the heat transfer portion I56. The cooling medium may be a brine, such as ethylene glycol or alcohol solution or a volatile liquid. The pump I59 is driven by an electric motor I6I, which is connected to the electric circuit for the motor-compressor unit I22, Preferably, the motor I6I is connected in parallel electric circuit relation with the motor-compressor unit I22 and in series with the thermostat switch I48 operated by the thermostatic bulb I in heat exchange relation with the upper portion of the primary evaporator I36. The switch I48 is provided with an.adjustable temperature regulating device I52 to control the operation of the motor-compressor unit so as to maintain any desired primary evaporator temperature. If desired, the pump may be conform, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. A cabinet provided with a storage compartment, a movable partition within said storage compartment dividing said compartment into sub-compartments, a door for closing one of said sub-compartments, said door being provided with extensible means providing a greater door size to accommodate the enlarged sub-compartment when the partition is moved.

2. A cabinet provided with a storage compartment, a movable partition within said storage compartment dividing said compartment into sub-compartments, a door for closing one of said sub-compartments, said door being provided with extensible means providing a greater door size to accommodate the enlarged sub-compartment when the partition is moved, said extensible means being in the form of a telescoping device.

3. In a refrigerating apparatus, the combination of a cabinet provided with a chamber to be refrigerated, a partition disposed within said chamber and cooperating with the walls thereof to divide same into compartments substantially isolated from one another, a cooling element of a closed primary refrigerant circulating system within said cabinet for cooling one of said compartments to a low temperature, means for cooling another of said compartments to a temperature higher than the temperature of said one compartment, said means comprising a closed fluid circulating secondary refrigerating system including a portion disposed in intimate thermal heat exchange relationship with the cooling element of said primary refrigerating system and a plurality of cooling plates disposed within said another compartment, one of said plates being spaced from said partition and the other of said plates being spaced from said one plate, and both of said cooling plates being substantially coextensive with said partition and cooperating with walls of said chamber to divide said another compartment into a plurality of sub-compartments.

4. In a refrigerating apparatusthe combination of a cabinet provided with a chamber to be refrigerated, a partition disposed within said chamber and cooperating with the walls thereof to divide same into an upper compartment and a lower compartment substantially isolated from one another, a cooling element of a closed primary refrigerant circulating system within said cabinet for cooling said upper compartment to a low temperature, means for cooling said lower compartment to a temperature higher than the temperature of said upper compartment, said .means comprising a closed fluid circulating secondary refrigerating system including a portion disposed in intimate thermal heat exchange relationship with the cooling element of said primary refrigerating system and a plurality of cooling plates disposed within said lower compartment, one of said plates being spaced from said partition and the other of said plates being spaced from said one plate, and both of said cooling plates being substantially coextensive with said partition and cooperating with walls of said chamber to divide the lower compartment into a plurality of sub-compartments and to serve as shelves for the support of articles to be stored in said lower compartment.

5. Refrigerating apparatuscomprising, a cabinet having a food storage chamber therein, means within said cabinet for cooling said chamber, said cabinet having an opening therein proing provided with resilient means for gripping said smooth uninterrupted chamber walls along said limited range to hold the member in any desired position within the chamber as distinguished from holding a partitioning member at predetermined spaced apart points along the chamber walls.

6. Refrigerating apparatus comprising, a cabinet having a food storage chamber therein, said cabinet having an opening in the front thereof providing access .to said chamber, a door for normally closing said access opening, the vertical side walls of said chamber being smooth and uninterrupted throughout at least a limited range, a horizontal member within said chamber partitioning the same into an upper compartment and a lower compartment, means within said cabinet for cooling said compartments to differenttemperatures relative to one another, said horizontal member substantially isolating said compartments from communication of air therebetween, and said horizontal partitioning member being provided with resilient means for gripping said smooth uninterrupted vertical chamber walls along said limited range to hold the member in any desired position within said chamber as distinguished from holding a partitioning member at predetermined spaced apart points of elevation along the chamber walls.

7. A refrigerating apparatus comprising, a cabinet having a food storage chamber therein, means for cooling said chamber, a partition disposed within said storage chamber and dividing same into a plurality of compartments, said partition being movable within said chamber to change the size of said compartments, a door cooperating with said partition for closing one of said compartments, and said door being provided with means to change the size thereof to afford cooperation of the door with said partition to close said one compartment when the partition is moved.

8. A refrigerating apparatus comprising, a cabinet having a vertically elongated food storage chamber therein, means for cooling said chamber, a horizontally disposed partition within said storage chamber and dividing same into a plurality of superimposed compartments, said partition being vertically movable within said chamber to change the height of said compartments, a door cooperating with said partition for closing one of said compartments, and said door being provided with extensible and retractable means affording a greater and/or lesser door size to permit cooperation of the door with said partition to close said one compartment when the partition is moved.

9. In a refrigerating apparatus, the combination of a cabinet provided with a chamber to be refrigerated, a partition disposed within said aasaaaa chamber and cooperating with the walls thereof to divide same into compartments substantially isolated from one another, a cooling element of a closed primary refrigerant circulating system within said cabinet for cooling one of said compartments to a low temperature, means for cooling another of said compartments to a temperature higher than the temperature of said one compartment, said means comprising a closed fluid circulating secondary refrigerating system including a portion disposed in intimate thermal heat exchange relationship with the cooling element of said primary refrigerating system and a cooling plate portion disposed within said another compartment, said cooling plate portion of said secondary refrigerating system dividing said another compartment into a plurality of subcompartments, and said-partition being movably associated with the walls of said chamber and adjustable relative to said cooling plate portion of the secondary refrigerating system for changing the size of one of said sub-compartments.

10. In a refrigerating apparatus, the combination of a cabinet provided with a chamber to be refrigerated, a partition disposed within said 'mary refrigerant circulating system within said cabinet for cooling said upper compartment to a low temperature, means for cooling said lower compartment to a temperature higher than the temperature of said upper compartment, said means comprising a closed fluid circulating secondary refrigerating system including a portion disposed in intimate thermal heat exchange relationship with the cooling element vof said primary refrigerating system and a plurality of cooling plates disposed within said lower compartment, said cooling plates being arranged one above the other in spaced apart relation to divide the lower compartment into a plurality of subcompartments, and said partition being movably associated with the walls of said chamber and adjustable relative to one of said coolin plates of the secondary refrigerating system for changing the size of one of said sub-compartments.

11. A refrigerating apparatus comprising in combination, a cabinet having walls forming a chamber therein provided with an access opening normally closed by a door, a horizontally disposed partition cooperating with walls of said chamber to divide same into an upper compartment and a lower compartment, an evaporator of a closed primary refrigerating system within said chamber above and in spaced relation to said partition for cooling the upper compartment to a low temperature, a closed secondary refrigerating circuit withinsaid cabinet including an upper refrigerant condensing portion associated with a part of said primary refrigerating system and a lower refrigerant evaporating portion disposed below said partition in heat exchange relationship with said lower compartment for cooling same to a temperature higher than the temperature of said upper compartment, and means cooperating with the front of said partition and with walls of said chamber to form a closure for one of said compartments whereby the air within said one compartment is substantially prevented from flowing outwardly thereof when said door affording access to the other compartment is opened.

12. A refrigerating apparatus comprising in combination, a cabinet having walls forming a chamber therein provided with an access opening normally closed by a door,ahorizontally disposed partition cooperating with Walls of said chamber to divide same into an upper compartment and a lower compartment, an evaporator of a closed primary refrigerating system within saidchamber above and in spaced relation to said partition for cooling the upper compartment to a low temperature, a closed secondary refrigerating circuit within said cabinet including an upper refrigerant condensing portion associated with a part of said primary refrigerating system and a lower refrigerant evaporating portion disposed below said partition in heat exchange relationship with said lower compartment for cooling same to a temperature higher than the temperature of said upper compartment, and a pivotally mounted member cooperating with walls of said chamber and with the front of said partition to form a closure for said upper compartment whereby the air within said upper compartment is substantially prevented from flowing outwardly thereof when said door aifording access to said lower compartment is opened.

13. A refrigerating-apparatus comprising in combination, a cabinet having walls forming a chamber therein provided with an access opening normally closed by a-door, a horizontally disposed partition cooperating with walls of said chamber to divide same into an upper compartment and a lower compartment, an evaporator of a closed primary refrigerating system within said chamber above and in spaced relation to said partition for cooling the upper compartment to a low temperature, a closed secondary refrigerating circuit within said cabinet including an upper refrigerant condensing portion disposed in intimate heat exchange relationship with said primary evaporator and a horizontal cooling plate disposed within said lower compartment intermediate said partition and the bottom wall of said chamber for cooling the lower compartment to a temperature higher than the temperature of said upper compartment, and said cooling plate being substantially coextensive with said partition and cooperating with the walls of said chamber to divide said lower compartment into a plurality of sub-compartments.

14. A refrigerating apparatus comprising in combination, a cabinet having walls forming a chamber therein provided with an access opening normally closed by a door, a partition cooperating with walls of said chamber to divide same into a first compartment and a second compartment, an evaporator of a closed primary refrigerating system within said chamber and spaced from said partition for cooling said first compartment to a low temperature, a closed secondary refrigerant circuit within said cabinet including a refrigerant condensing portion associated with a part of said primary refrigerating system and a refrigerant evaporating portion disposed in heat exchange relation with said second compartment for cooling same to a temperature higher than the temperature of said first compartment, and means cooperating with said partition and with walls of said chamber to form a closure for one of said compartments whereby air within said one compartment is substantially prevented from flowing outwardly thereof when said door afford ing access to the other compartment is opened.

15. In a refrigerating apparatus, the combination of a cabinet having walls forming a chamber therein, a partition within said chamber dividing the interior thereof into a first compartment and a second compartment, a primary refrigerating circuit within said cabinet including an evaporator for cooling said first compartment, a closed fluid secondary circuit within said cabinet including a refrigerant condensing portion disposed in heat exchange. relationship with a part of said primary circuit and a refrigerant evaporating portion disposed for cooling said second compartmem, and said partition being movably associated with the walls of said chamber and adjustable thergalong for changing the size of said compartments.

' PAUL H. PREBLE. 

